Inside the PD: Barber, Motley named Group AAA Players of the Year

Both were chosen as Players of the Year in Group AAA by the Virginia High School Coaches Association. Barber beat out Petersburg's Frank Mason while Motley shared her award with Oakton's Caroline Coyer.

Barber averaged 21.3 points a game for Hampton, which finished 27-5 and beat Petersburg for the state title. He is ranked the No. 21 junior in the nation by Rivals.com.

"He had an outstanding year," Hampton assistant Eric Brown said. "The big thing to me is the growth he showed. He made his teammates better. He worked hard throughout the year and he's prepared to hopefully do bigger and better things in the future."

Barber's postseason honors include Eastern Region Player of the Year and Peninsula District Co-Player of the Year.

Joining Barber on the first team were Mason, Gar-Field's Marcus Knight, T. C. Williams' Anthony Huggins, Osbourn's Jay Lane and Norview's Rashaun Madison.Bethel's Aaron Bacote, who led the PD in scoring at 22.1 points a game and has signed with Old Dominion, made the second team. Phoebus' Troy Williams was honorable mention.

Walter Brower, who won his third state championship in 30 seasons, was named Coach of the Year by the VHSCA.

Motley, who averaged 24.3 points a game, was joined on the first team by teammate and Delaware signee Alecia Bell. Rounding out the team were Highland Springs' Jazzmin Dabney, Potomac's Te'Shya Heslip, Forest Park's Lexie Carpenter and Princess Anne's Galaisha Goodhope.

Motley is ranked the No. 38 junior in the country by ESPN.com.

"Based on the year she had, the honors she's getting are pretty well deserved," Woodside coach Mike Tallon said. "She's improved in every facet of the game. She's pulling up more for jumpers, she's shooting more 3s, and she's doing a better job of handling the team. She put the team on her back more. She and Bell both did that."